Parachute



Jan; 12, 1952 .1. E. cAsTNER PARACHUTE Filed Aug. l1, 1930 Patented Jan. 12, 1932 PATENT OFFICE- JosEriaj E. cAs'rNER, or H oUs'roN, TEXAS IPARACHUTE Application led August 11, 1930. Serial No. 474,355.

rllhis invention relates to new improvements in a parachute.

One object of the invention is to provide, in a parachute, means-for insuring the opening of the parachute when it is attempted to use the same.

lt often happens that when it is attempted to use a parachute the same fails to open, when the rip cord is pulled, and for that i@ reason fails to catch the air and accordingly does not have any sustaining e'ect. It is the object of this invention to provide means for assuring the prompt -opening of the parachute when it is attempted to use the same.

With the aboveand other objects in view this invention has particular relation to ce1'- tain novel features .of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and il# 3@ lustrated in` the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

and useful Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of' through the seat 6 and through the manifold the parachute.

vFigure 2 shows a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a vertical sectional view of' a container for pressure fluid employed and, Figure 4 shows a top plan view thereof.

. Referring now more particularly to the 0f drawings wherein like numerals of reference designatesimilar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates the cover, or body, vof the parachute which is formed of suitable iexible fabric or other flexible material, and which has the sustaining cords 2 forthe usual purpose and arranged in the usual manner.

The body 1 has aplurality of radial pockets 3 extending ,from the vcentral portion thereof approximately to the margin thereof. These pockets are preferably formed by sewing, or otherwise securing, the elongated 1flaps 4 to the material of the bodyl, the outer ends of said pockets being'closed, Within and secured to the body of the parachute there is a container 5 provided to contain air or gas under compression. i The compressed fluid may bereleased through a suitable valve seat 6 which is controlled-by a valve 7 having the stem 8 depending therefrom and working through a stung box 9 in, the bottom of tne container. The lvalve is normally held closed by means of a coil spring surrounding the stem and interposed between the bottom of the container and the abutment 11 fixed on said stem. Within the topV of the 65 y8 works also through a housing 15 which is attached tothe lower end of the casing 5 and 65 in this housing there is a hinged disc 16 having a bearing through which the stem 8 works and the free margin of this' disc isseated on the coil spring 17. When the valve 7 is pulled into open position, the disc 16 will frictional- 70 ly engage the stem 8 and hold thevalve open, and the fluid in the container 5 will escape out 12 and tubes 13 into the radial pockets 3 and will distend said pockets and open the parachute so that it will catch the air and will properly operate in the usual and expected way. vThe container 5 has a. valve controlled filling tube 18 through whichsaid container mayqbe filled with pressure Huid when the valve 7 is closed. A

The drawings and description disclosed what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention, by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the in- 85 vention will be defined vby the appended claims. vWhat l claim is: l

1. A parachute having a body and a plurality of elongated radial pockets incorporatedinto the body, a container arranged 'i within said body having a manifold incorporated therein provided with radial tubes which enter the adjacent ends of the respec- Ative pockets, a valve seat between the cony tainer proper and the manifold, a downwardly opening valve in the container having an extended stem which is exposed beneath the container, a yieldable member normally holding the valvein position to closeA said seat and a release cord attached to the v stem through which said valve may be opened.

2. A parachute having a body and a plurality of elongated pockets incorporated into the body, a container having an expansible fluid therein, and secured Within said body, a manifold carried by the container having radial tubes Which enter the adjacent ends of the pockets, there being a valve seatthrough which the fluid may pass from the container into the manifold, a downwardly opening valve normally closing said seat, a stem depending` from the valve and Whose outer end is exposed, a yieldable member normally holding the valve closed, a housing attached to said container,` a hinged disc Within the housing 'having a bearing through which the stem Works,'a yieldable seat supporting the free edge of said dise and a release cord attached to the outer end of the stem.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

JOSEPH E. CASTNER. 

